Friday Fluff: TdF Week 2

 

Yesterday morning we finally fixed what ailed the drum carder or I should say I fixed it even though I had enlisted The Mister to help me. While he was downstairs looking for some tools, I read the directions and made the simple correction that moved the two rollie things away from each other. The new poly cord fit perfectly so it was all back in business. The Mister was interested in trying it out so I let him make a blended batt using my Merino stash.

Ta da.....he made a big one. I needed more of this to make a pair of mitts to match my hat so it's a good thing. 

Two of my wheels are empty now. I finished up the tweedy Peaches and Cream Shinook fiber and the other wonky batt I had blended to make some mitts to match my wonky hat. They haven't had their bath yet. It's too humid here to dunk wool. It would never dry even in the AC right now so they'll have to wait. 

Next up on the Ladybug will be the Strawberry Rhubarb Polwarth that I picked up at this year's MDSW. There's still a lot of Tour left but it feels like I'm running out of road fast. I guess that's what I get for planning to do more in three weeks than is humanly possible. I do it every year.

My Home Away From Home

 

Here's a peek at how I live while I'm away Grand sitting. I sleep on a dog bed on the living room floor because....

...Pup won't go upstairs to the big beautiful guest room with a private bathroom that The Mister is sleeping in upstairs. She frets and whines all night and keeps the babies awake so I camp out down in the living room with her. When she had her hip dislocation we bought her a giant dog bed so I could sleep next to her and keep her from moving until her surgery date. That was a long few weeks but we did end up with a dog who can walk on four legs again and a nice bed that's easy to travel with. Daughter leaves for work at 4:30 am and wakes me up so I have a nice long time before everyone else wakes up to sit with all the projects I bring along and I bring along a lot.

This week I also brought along my juggling scarves and they were a big hit with both of the Grands. 

Big Grand had insisted on buying this puzzle for our visits but it proved too hard for his little hands. We took it home last week, finished it for him and transported it back so he could take it apart which he thought was hilarious.

Little Grand mastered sitting up last week and this week he's working on crawling. He's got the right idea only he can only go backwards which is pretty funny. 

He's also insisting on holding his own bottle now which is as messy as it seems. I come home covered in breast milk that is not mine. As soon as I walk in the door, I toss my clothes in the wash, take a bath and jump into bed. Unpacking can wait until morning.

 

Wednesday WIPs

 

I'm not sure how it happened but I've got a lot of socks all needing their heels turned at the same time including the handspun one that I did not include in this post. I also finished the sock with the afterthought heel and started the second one this week. 

I'm going down the foot of the Cozy Quilt sock. I did not carry the pattern onto the bottom of the foot but used a checkerboard pattern instead. I didn't think the floats that are on the top of the foot would be too comfortable to stand on. The Ski Sweater has more lice on it. It's going slowly in this heat but I do pick it up on most days for at least one row. 

And...this is the week I've been trying to master the top triangles on the entrelac dishcloth. There's a lot of dicussion about this top row and Cindy even sent me her modification but until I make it wrong, I can't figure out how to make it right. That doesn't exactly make sense but I bet some of you know just what I mean. 

Tiny Needle Tuesday

 

I'm not kidding when I say it takes me until Sunday to feel like myself again after our two day baby sitting adventure. We're off to do some sitting again today.  All that really cuts into my stitching time but I did manage to finish all the white background on this last row. 

On Sunday I sat down for the first time all week at my sewing table and worked on Dear Jane, some Patchwork crosses and a bit of needlepoint. A good listen helps. I had a Dateline podcast and the end of the latest Stephen King audiobook to keep me going. There's nothing like a good murder to keep you glued to your seat.

Joyeux 14 Juillet!

 

That's Happy Bastille Day in French. It also happens to be our wedding anniversary. This was my gift. I told The Mister I needed a new whisk after my old one had rusted and this is what he came home with. 

I bought him a new paint by number after he finished this one. 

The new one is this Day of the Dead looking thing that he picked out because he says it reminds him of me. Sigh. Sounds about right. 

Send In the Clowns

 

It was too hot to manage the Farmer's Market again yesterday so Pup and I waited in the shade while The Mister picked up some things. 

The last time I went with The Mister to the Farmer's Market I had tried out a new sunscreen. I had seen a report on the weather channel about the difference between chemical and mineral sunscreen so I had ordered some mineral ones after hearing that they are safer. I slathered it all over and off we went. It was a particularly nice morning and every one seemed to be very jolly. I was getting lots of smiles. The Mister who is usually a few steps ahead of me turned around and looked at me in horror. "You look like a clown", he whispered. It seems my new sunscreen had dried in a way that made me look an awful lot like...

...this guy. I hid behind a tree and used Pup's water bottle and a cooling scarf that I carry with me to wipe it all off my face. Needless to say, I've gone back to my chemical sunscreen. I didn't particularly like having my face feeling like a baby's butt covered in diaper rash ointment anyway.

These Crocs are Made for Walking

 

I'm happy to report that I was able to take a brisk knit walk around the kitchen last night for thirty whole minutes to some peppy music. Plantar Facitis has kept me on the couch for what seems like an eternity but now I'm pretty much pain free-for walking. Dancing....hmmm. Maybe not yet.